For Grantseekers
Mission Approach
The Ordean Foundation makes gifts to the community through grants to non-profit organizations. The Ordean Foundation’s focus on poverty is the core principle for the organization.
We approach our mission both by supporting basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, heath care, and personal safety) and strategies to break generational cycles of poverty (social justice, youth development, education, and job training).
Service Area
The Ordean Foundation awards grants to qualified organizations located in, serving, or directly impacting residents of the City of Duluth and/or adjacent communities in St. Louis County.
While it is not an absolute requirement, we prefer to partner with organizations that are physically based in Duluth and that have a long-term commitment to the community. Proposals submitted by organizations not located in Duluth for projects or programs that duplicate services already provided by Duluth-based nonprofits will not be funded.
Catalyst Grant
The Catalyst Grant Program is designed to quickly respond to emerging and unmet community needs. These one-time grants of up to $20,000 provide support for pilot projects, events, initiatives, capacity-building, program development, or capital needs.
The Catalyst Grant Program offers two open grant cycles per year. The application submission deadline for the Spring cycle is April 15th and Fall Cycle application deadline is August 15th. If submission deadlines fall on a weekend or holiday, applications will be due the next business day by 4:00 pm CST.
The Catalyst Grant Program is by invitation only. There will be a limited number of projects/organizations invited to apply. If you are interested in applying for the current grant cycle, please fill out the Application Request Form at least 30 days prior to the application deadline. Catalyst grants are highly competitive. Ordean is unable to fund all submitted proposals, even if they meet program guidelines, as there are limited funds available annually.
Grant Cycles
The Ordean Foundation's Catalyst Grant Program offers two competitive grant cycles per year:
Spring Cycle
March 15th Inquiry Date
April 15th Application Deadline
Fall Cycle
July 15th Inquiry Date
August 15th Application Deadline
Inquire by Completing our
Application Request Form:
Grant Process
Inquire
Complete a short quiz to determine if your organization is eligible to apply for a Catalyst Grant. Both new and returning applicants must begin the process by completing the Application Request Form.
Proposal
Organizations meeting eligibility criteria will receive instructions to submit a Proposal Summary (1,500 character limit).
Application
If your project is compatible with Ordean’s mission and aligns with Catalyst grant funding priorities, we will send you instructions to access our online grant portal and complete the Catalyst grant application.
To be eligible for funding, proposals must be compatible with Ordean’s mission and must be submitted by organizations that are classified as a public charity with valid tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (organizations without legal tax-exempt status may apply through a fiscal sponsor). Ordean grants may not be used for election campaigns, lobbying activities, or direct religious purposes. The Ordean Foundation does not make grants to private foundations or individuals.
Find Out If You Qualify
The first step is to complete a short quiz to determine if your organization is eligible to apply for a Catalyst Grant. Both new and returning applicants interested in submitting a Catalyst Grant proposal must begin the process by completing the Application Request Form.
Proposal
Organizations meeting eligibility criteria will receive instructions at the end of the eligibility quiz to submit a Proposal Summary (1,500 character limit). If your project is compatible with Ordean’s mission and aligns with Catalyst grant funding priorities, we will send you instructions to access our online grant portal and complete the Catalyst grant application. Please allow up to two weeks for Ordean to review your proposal summary and notify you of our decision to invite or decline a full application.
Application
Organizations invited to apply for a Catalyst Grant should be prepared to describe WHAT your project will accomplish, WHO it will impact, and WHY it is a community need. You will also be required to submit a project budget using the Catalyst Grant Budget Template.
The application submission deadline for the 2024 Fall cycle is August 15, 2025 at 4:00 pm CDT.
Application Review
Ordean staff review applications for completeness and may request additional information or a grant review session via zoom as part of the grant approval process. The Ordean Foundation Program Committee evaluates proposals each cycle and makes recommendations to Ordean’s Board of Directors. There are three grant cycles including January, April, and September. All applicants receive notification of the Board's action within two weeks by email.
Do you have an idea to help us stay connected and engaged?
Connect and tell us your story or start an application request form for your organization
Thank you for your interest in the Ordean Foundation's Catalyst Grant Program.
The first step is to answer a few questions to see if you are eligible to apply for funding. If you are eligible, you will be prompted to submit a proposal statement.